Melted Plastic

A couple of nights ago I had just steamed broccoli on a burner and then proceeded to cut open a plastic bag of cauliflower rice. I poured the rice into the skillet and laid down the plastic bag - you guessed it - on the hot burner where I had just cooked the broccoli. Needless to say, I’m not a fan of ceramic top stoves. A few seconds later I went to pick it up and throw it away. I realized what I had done when only a shred of the bag lifted. Both smoke alarms started sounding in my apartment. I took a look at the situation and knew it was going to be a big project.

The next day, I was on a walk with a friend. In the context of our conversation, she reminded me that incremental steps are sometimes necessary in life. We see where we are and we see where we want to be. In order to get from the present to where we want, we’d need to take a giant leap from one place to the next., which isn't realistic, and is rarely possible. I immediately connected that to the process of cleaning the plastic off my stovetop. 

The stove did not clean with one round of attack. A half a box of baking soda, one sacrificed metal spatula, and many paper towels later,  I’m still working through layers of the plastic. I can see progress. I know I will get there. I also know that this metaphor was much needed, and I wanted to share it with you too.

When we see something we want to change, some days it would be lovely to have a magic wand and arrive there immediately. As with any habit we want to change or build, or a problem or challenge we want to solve or work through, it often takes many small and intentional steps. When there’s a sense of urgency, that can be one of the best times to pause and assess what needs to happen next and where the pressure to move forward quickly is coming from. 

• What is one thing you might be trying to rush or force that might need some space around it?

• What is one small step you can take towards what you’re working on?

Image Credit: <a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/fire-alarm" title="fire alarm icons">Fire alarm icons created by Eucalyp - Flaticon</a>